During the 60's and 70's the Ford Zephyr was a favourite car by a particular group of South Africans, they also often wore a comb in their socks, and were considered as 'common' or kitch or low class by others, the term ZEF was coined to descibe them.

The word would be used to describe the style of a particular person.

The word could also be used in a derogatory manner by someone who considered themself of higher class or better breeding.

Bernoldus Niemand aka James Phillips, a South African musician who came from a mining town is a good example of a zef person and so is some of his lyrics eg: Welcome to my car.

Usually young men who drove Ford Zephyrs, hung their arm out of the window, and wore a comb stuck into one sock would be considered zef.

More recently, South African rap artists Die Antwoord and Jack Parow would be the embodiment of what zef is.

It is zef to be yourself, to be honest about your humble origins and to be proud of it.

The ultimate style.. it's a full flex, like a full flex. It's an African style. It's not something you can really explain.. It's something you experience; like a video game when you reach the next level, that's basically zef. Zef is the next level.